Romanian amusement developer Inowize planned to unveil QBIX at IAAPA Expo Orlando from 15 to 18 November 2022. The new attraction expands the company’s portfolio beyond virtual reality, using augmented and mixed-reality ideas to create a shared six-player experience.
Inowize is also known for the Arkadia VR arena system, which had been its flagship amusement product. Arkadia systems were present at family entertainment centres in Europe, while the number installed in North America was unclear at the time.
A compact, headset-free gaming arena
QBIX is designed as a 13-by-13-foot cube, giving venues a six-player attraction in a relatively compact footprint. Instead of headsets, the system uses three interactive screens, projection-based visuals and one handheld controller for each participant.
Games run for approximately five to eight minutes and support between one and six players. The experience also adds physical effects, including a vibrating floor and bursts of wind. Guests use a self-service kiosk to select and begin a game, with no attendant required during operation.
The concept combines 3D game environments and interactive screens with augmented-reality-style presentation and haptic effects. Three walls inside the QBIX portal surround players as they compete, cooperate and explore each scenario.
Designed for group play and simple operation
Inowize positioned QBIX as an active social attraction rather than a solitary game. Its available experiences were described as varied, energetic and suitable for a broad audience, while still allowing a single guest to play alone.
The company said the games were developed to approach the immersion of VR through high-quality 3D graphics, without the straps, cables, headsets or other wearable equipment associated with many VR attractions. Guests operate the experience with a controller and receive gameplay instructions through the system.
- Unattended operation: a self-service kiosk lets guests choose and launch a game with a card swipe.
- No wearables: players do not need headsets or body-mounted equipment.
- Six-player capacity: the attraction is built for group competition and shared play, but can also accommodate one player.
- Efficient footprint: the complete experience fits within a 13-by-13-foot cube.
For operators comparing attractions for a venue, QBIX sits closer to a compact interactive arena than a conventional arcade machine. Its unattended design was intended to reduce staffing demands and avoid fragile wearable hardware, while the short sessions could support repeated play throughout the day.
From Arkadia VR to QBIX
Inowize’s CEO Claudia Mihalache said the company drew on more than a decade of VR development and its experience with the six-player Arkadia system when creating QBIX. The new product was intended to retain a strong sense of immersion while addressing practical operator requirements, including self-service use and multiplayer interaction.
The company described the attraction as a way to help venues deliver a memorable group experience through motion, sound, wind and interactive 3D games. Its wider product range includes the Arkadia VR arena system, which provides a useful point of comparison for venue owners considering different forms of immersive entertainment.
Early installations and operator expectations
Inowize stated that the first eight QBIX units were scheduled for installation at an entertainment venue by the end of October 2022. The company presented those installations as an early sign of demand for unattended multiplayer attractions.
Business Development Manager Stefan Murariu said the company’s forecast suggested operators could potentially reach a return on investment in as little as six months based on estimated annual gross revenue. That was an internal projection rather than a guaranteed result, and actual performance would depend on venue traffic, pricing and operating conditions.
QBIX was due to receive its official public launch and demonstrations at IAAPA Expo Orlando in November 2022. Further product information was available through Inowize’s QBIX information page. For broader venue planning, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide covers the practical considerations involved in choosing equipment, while racing arcades and other dedicated attractions offer different approaches to multiplayer entertainment.
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